The axe has moved closer to Barwell Library after council chiefs recommended it should close.

A paper going to Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet proposes the centre should close on June 1 and be replaced by a weekly mobile library service.

The news follows a public consultation where 78% of residents objected to the plans.

Councillor Richard Blunt, cabinet member for libraries, said there is “no alternative” but to close the library, unless a last ditch rescue attempt is made by a community group.

There was hope for Barwell’s library after a volunteer group proposed to take over the site. But they were forced to reluctantly pull the plug after failing to find ways of making the branch financially viable.

Officers have now recommended the site in the George Ward Centre should be closed and replaced with a weekly six hour mobile library service where residents can loan books.

It is hoped residents can still use some of the IT facilities at the old site if the building’s bosses approve.

Cllr Blunt said: “I regret the closure of any library and we remain open to discuss any other ways in which we might prevent Barwell Library from closing, while tackling our funding pressures. This is the only library out of 36 that is facing closure.

“There was a bid from a local group that we thought offered a good basis to build on but, unfortunately, the group did not feel they could guarantee the longer term sustainability of the library.

“We have to respect their decision and I would like to thank them for the time and effort they have put in to date. Without another bid, we are left with no alternative but to close the library this summer.”

The George Ward Centre

Liberal Democrat councillors fighting to save the site described the recommendation as a “political folly” and urged the Conservative-led county council to rethink.

Lib Dem county councillor Michael Mullaney said the library is a “crucial resource” and urged cabinet to drop the plans.

Only 33 people responded to the public consultation launched in October last year.

More than three quarters of respondents argued the expansion of the village would pile extra pressure on the area’s facilities and the mobile library, with a lack of internet access and children’s facilities, would be insufficient.

But more than half said they never use the site’s IT facilities and seven said they have never visited the library.

A quarter of respondents supported the plans due to the close proximity of other libraries.

Barwell Library was one of 36 threatened with closure after the cash-strapped county council proposed to withdraw its funding to save £800,000 a year.

Thirteen libraries have transferred to community control since then and the majority are on track to transfer over the next year.

Agreements over Braunstone Town, Mountsorrel, Narborough and Kirby Muxloe are still yet to be reached.

Barwell Library was one of 36 threatened with closure after the cash-strapped county council proposed to withdraw its funding to save £800,000 a year. The proposals will be debated at the adults and communities overview and scrutiny meeting this Friday, before being presented to the cabinet on March 1.